Julius B. Lejju

Biography

ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS: (A) INTERNATIONAL / REGIONAL ORGANISATIONS [1]  February, 2015 to date;  Committee Member of African Future Earth, coordinated by International  Science Foundation, Regional office (ICSU- ROA, Pretoria, South Africa on behalf of Global Future Earth; [2] Secretary General for International Union for Quaternary Research (INQUA); 2011 to July 2015. [3]  2009 to August, 2015; Associate Editor, African Journal of Ecology; [4]  2007-2011; Past President of Eastern African Quaternary Research Association (EAQUA); (B) UNIVERSITY ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS [1] March, 2012 to date: Associate Professor of Botany; Mbarara University of Science and Technology; [2]  2005 to 2008: Senior Lecturer, Department of Biology, Mbarara University of Science and Technology; [3]   PhD Research Student, Trinity College University of Dublin, Ireland; September 2001 to July, 2005. [4]  2000 to September 2001:  Lecturer & Head, Department of Biology, Mbarara University of Science and Technology; [5] February 1999 to 2000: Assistant Lecturer, Department of Biology, Mbarara University of Science and Technology. (C) UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATIVE APPOINTMENTS: [1]  July, 2015 to date:  Ag Dean, Faculty of Science, Mbarara University of Science and Technology; [2] March 2011 to July, 2015: Associate Dean in charge of Academics, Faculty of Science, Mbarara University of Science and Technology; [3]  March 2008 to February, 2011: Associate Dean in charge of Academics, Faculty of Science, Mbarara University of Science and Technology; [4]  July 2007 to March 2008:   Head, Department of Biology; Faculty of Science, Mbarara University of Science and Technology; [5]  January 2000 to September 2001:   Head, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Mbarara University of Science and Technology (D) UNIVERSITY COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS: [1]  July, 2015 to date:  Member of the Steering Committee for Mbarara University University Research Grants Office, [2] 23rd February, 2015: Member of the ACE-MUST Proposal Development Taskforce, [2] 30th January, 2015:    Member of the Steering Committee for Needy Students on the African Development Bank (AfDB) Higher Education, Science & Technology (HEST) Project Scholarships, [3]  2011 to date:  Member of the Kihumuro Project Implementation Committee, [4]  2011 to date:  Member of the Deans’ Committee. (E) ACADEMIC MEMBERSHIP (SOCIETIES / ORGANISATIONS) [1]  2013 to date:  Academic Advisor, International Science Foundation, [2]  2011 to date: Member of Editorial Board, Quaternary International Journal, [3]  2009 to date: Member of Past Global Environmental Changes (PAGES); [4]  2010 to date: Member of East African Wildlife Society (EAWS). (F) RESEARCH AND ACADEMIC AWARDS [1] Palaeontological Scientific Trust (PAST) Research Grant for skills training and capacity development on Palaeo-environmental Research in Uganda: Enhancing Skills and Local Capacity, 2015; 5000 USD. [2] International Quaternary Research (INQUA) Research Grant for skills training and capacity development on Archaeology and Palaeo-environmental Research in Uganda: Enhancing Skills and Local Capacity, 2015; 5000 EUROS. [3] 2013 START Grants for Global Environmental Change Research in Africa; 2013 to 2014; 45,000 USD. [4] African Climate Change Teaching Fellowship Programme award (ACCFP / START); 2012 to 2013, 12,000 USD. [5] Visiting Research Fellowship, the Belgian Federal Science Policy Office (BELSPO), Limnology Unit, Faculty of Science, Ghent University, Belgium, October, 2011 – 2012. 12,000 EUROS. [6] Commonwealth Fellowship, Institute of Archaeology, University College London; October, 2010 to April, 2011. [7] Honorary Research Associate, Institute of Archaeology, University College London; 2009 to 2013. [8] UK- Africa Academic Partnership for Graduate training (Collaboration between Mbarara University of Science & Technology and University College London) funded by British Academy; 2008 to 2011; £ 30,000. [9] Millennium Science Initiative (MSI) Research Grants for Climate Change Research Project in Lake Victoria, funded by Uganda Government / UNCST; 2007 to 2011; 250,000 USD. [10] Organization of Social Science Research in East and Central Africa (OSSREA) Postdoctoral Research Fellowship; 2007; 10,000 USD. [11] British Academy Visiting Research Fellow, Institute of Archeology, University College, London, 2007. [12] British Association in East Africa, small research grants, 2007; £ 1000. [13] British Association in East Africa, small research grants, 2004; £ 1000. [14] John Wiley & Sons Honor for best student poster presentation at INQUA Congress held at Reno, Nevada, USA from 22nd – 31st July, 2003. [15] American Association of Stratigraphic Palynologist (AASP) Research grant; 2002; 1000 USD.

Research Interest

Environmental and Climate change research, Palaeo-environmental analysis, Palaeo-climate,  Palaeo-ecology, Palynology, Palaeobotany, Archaeobotany, Forest ecology / Regeneration, Rangeland Management and Conservation, Climate change and Food security / Indigenous Knowledge.